EVALUATION OF APOPTOTIC AND GENOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF ANDROGRAPHOLIDE ISOLATED FROM ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA USING DNA FRAGMENTATION AND AMES TEST

Mohana S.J.* and Umarani V. 

ABSTRACT

Mutation and Apoptosis are two key factor for converting normal cells to cancerous cells and beside developmental abnormalities, it may also lead to tumorigenesis, autoimmunity, and other serious health problems. Upregulating of apoptosis by a nonmutagenic compound may be useful as cancer therapy by inhibiting spread of abnormalities or cancer. Thus, it is essential to analyse, prove a novel phytoconstituent for anti-mutagenic and antiapoptotic property. Andrographolide, a diterpenoid lactone isolated from Andrographis paniculata, known as „the King of Bitters‟, exhibits several pharmacological activities including immuno-stimulation, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammation, anticancer effect, hypotensive action cardio-protective action HIV . Though, reports on anticancer role of Andrographis sp. are rapidly increasing, there are limited reports with its derivatives. Thereby in this article a research is made to prove active phytoconstituent andrographolide as apoptosis inducer and a non-mutagen compound.

Keywords: Andrographolide, mutation, apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, MTT assay.